Equalizing system for steam-shovels and the like.



S. R. W. M. BAGER,

- EQUALIZING SYSTEM FOR STEAM SHOVELS AND THE-LIKE.

APPLICATION FILEDPBB. 17, 1913.

Patented 0015.7, 1913..

6 SHEETS-SHBET 1.

ullnll Elm i s. R. W. M; BAGER. EQUALIZING SYSTEM FOR STEAM SHOVELS AND THE LIKE.

APPLIUATIUN FILED FEB. 17, 1913. '1: Pammhed Got. 7, W13.

5 SHEET S-BHEET 2.

S. R. W. M. BAGER.

EQUALIZING SYSTEM FOR STEAM SHOVELS AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 17, 1913.

Patented Oct '7, 1913.

5 SHEETSSHEET 3.

Ffi7l222f S. R. W. M. BAGER.

EQUALIZING SYSTEM FOR. STEAM SHOVELS AND THE LIKE.

a W, V APPLICATION FILED FEB. 17, 1913 T W g Q j fatented. Get. 1913.

5 SHEETSSHBET 4 S. R. W. M. BAGER.

EQUALIZING SYSTEM FOR STEAM'SHOVELS AND THE LIKE.

APPLIOATION FILED FEB.17, 1913.

Patented Oct. '7, 1918.

5 SHEETSSHEBT 5.

b will enable others skilled in the art to which and compensating means used in conjunction SVANT'E ROBERT WILLIAM MATTfifiQ'N Bx...

EQUALIZING SYSTEM lflR- STE "jlllt li ll glil.

Lott oltllct. *3, 19513.

Application filed. February 1'2. 193.3. Serial E le. 743,936.

To (171107111111. i/ may concern:

lle it known that l, Sux'rn R. W. M. llAonu, a subject of the King of Sweden, and a resident of Milwaukee, county of Milwaukee. and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improve ments in Equalizing Systems for Steam- Shovels and the like; and I do hereby do: clare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such asit appertains to make and use the same,

The present invention relates to equalizing with large portable pieces of machinery such as steam shovels, pile drivers, derricks and the like which are usually provided with four or more supporting trucks that are in most instances propelled along temporary tracks. Due to such temporurincss of the lrackway, it usually presents many lli'i larities, and in large pieces of machinery having no equalizing means, these irregularities produce an objectionable, improper and irregular distribution of the load on the tour trucks, due to the tendency for thenr to all remain in the same horizontal plane. Furthermore, when the machine has been temporarily posit?! red where it to perform its work, an -rregularity in the track is likely to throw the entire machine out of vertical alinement and in the case of pile drivers especially, this has to be overcome by some suitable truing, adjusting or compensating means. 'Heretofore, either hydraulic or pneumatic means have been employed to act as absorbers for the irregularities and in most cases additional means for tru ing and adjusting the machine when positioned have been necessary. The latter means is often used for stabilizing the, construction as well as adjusting the same. It is obvious that many advantages would lie in the use of me chanical means for accomplishing the above results instead of relying on air or water pressure, the objections arising from the use of which are well known to those familiar with the art.

'The main object therefore of this invention is to provide such direct mechanical means which will compensate for, the irregularities in the trackway, and at the same time, provide for a rigid support for the body of the machine when the same is in working position. Other objects'wil l appear as the s ecificat-ion proceeds. In fur therance of tliS object, an equalizer bean! is employed and interposed between a suitable sub-base of the machine and the two front trucks, so that said trucks will support the beam at its extremities and the equalizer beam will in turn support, at a point intermediate its ends, the front portion of the sub-base, the three supporting points allowing for relative angular changes between the respective parts. is mounted directly on the two rear trucks in such. a way to allow the trucks to adapt themselves to local irregularities with out impartin the motion to the sub-base. It will there ore be seen that the sub-base, when the machine is being propelled, will be supported at three points and consequently,

it is not necessary for the four trucks to run in a horizontal plane, as would be the case if themachine were supported at four'points. insure rigidity and stability however, the machine has been positioned, are provided to estabiisb. a support relation between the extremities of the aliser beam and the corresponding portions the sub-base, which will then be supported at four points.

in describing the. invention in detail, rot

is made to the accompanying drawings, in which the invention is shown as being applied to a steam shovel supported for movement along a four rail trackway,- by means of four trucks. It will. be understood, of course, that the inventipn is applicable to all propelled'machines having four traction members, whether said members he trucks or other devices which will accomplish the same results. Various changes and modifications may therefore he made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

In the aforesaid drawings :Figure l is a side elevation of the lower portion of a steam .shovel provided with a sub-base s mounted on the supporting tIUCKS in accord ance with the invention. Fig. '2, 1s a front The rear of 'the'sub-base elevation-showing the manner of mounting the sub-base on the equalizer beam and the,

manner of mounting the letter on the supporting trucks. Fig. 8 is a top plan view of the preferred form. of rear truck used. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the truck shown lun 3. Fig.

5 is a detail. view of a. com: bined jack nut and center bearing for the trucks. Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on 4 the linefi tl of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 shows one form of-an adjustable center bearing used between the sub-base and the equalizer beam.

liliparts.

.iieferriug particularly to Figs. 1 and 2,.21

sub-base is shown, but the character of the mechanism moui'ited thereon is immaterial to the invent-hm. To illus irate the function of such sub-base, l'iowever. a. portion of a rotating steam shoi'el deck shown inounted on fiche sub-base Whichis designated generally by the character 2. The remaining (llSCl'llfil-lOH deals only with the manner of supporting the sub-base to accomplish the results hereinhefore enumerated. Preferably four trucks are used which are adapted to support the suh l'iase 1 at its four corners The two rear trucks, one of which is denoted generally by character 3 in Fig. 1, directly support the rear portion of the subl: e. Although the supportis direct, pref eralily some means is provided for allowing each truck to adapt itself to local inequalities Without imparting motion to the subbase. each truck is prefc ably provided with four wheels, the above result is accomplished by supporting the sulrhase on a soi able supporting member by means oil. a C61 ter hearing, and supporting the said supporting members on the axles of the four wheels at only three points, as will he clearly appreheui ed from the more detailed description of this construction, which is to follow.

The two Front trucli's i4 instead of supporting the sub-base directly, support an equalizer beam 5 by means of the center hearings 3-4) which will hereinafter he. more fully described. Intermediate the ends of the equalizer beam 5 is a center hear ing denoted generally by the reference character 6. Said hearing (3 supports the forward portion of the sub-base 1 in'tcrn'icdiate the lateral edges of said sulrhase. By this construction, i. seen, therefore, that the sub-base is normally supported at three points, to wit, by the two rear trucks and the center hearing (3. The equalizer beam 5 may rousequenlly change its angular relation, with the ground/without affecting the sub-ease and conversely any angular ohangi of "(he sul' hase due to the rear trucks run ning on tracks of unequal elevation will not be transmitted to the l? ont trucks. The load tlfir-refore distributed on the four trucks so that each truclcwill support its share of the load irrespective of the unevenness of the tracks. As each truck provided with four Wheels that run on two tracks it is desirable to construct the trucks so that the load will he distributed to the four wheels of each truclr in a manner similar to the this tribution of th load to the tour trucks. in other w rds, it is desired to mount the truck these various views, like reference characters refer throughout to correspondingnoraosi on the four wheels so that the will not llQ compelled to remain in the same horizontal plane.

Figs. 3 and l illustrate the construction of the rear trucks which are identifial with the "front ones with the exception that the latter have no drivinggearing and are pri'n'idezl with a ditl'ercut type of center hearing such as will he described hereinafter.

The four wheels 7 ol": earl: truck are flanged to guide them on the rails constituting the. lracku'ay. They are preferably keyed or otherwise made last to the front and rear axles 9 and 10 respectively. A hearing frame or supporting member 11 mounted on ilie two axles and carries at the rear end the singlehearing 12 which on gages the journal 13 of the rear axle 10. The portion ol the hearing 12 which engages the axle 10 is slightly curred or convexcd loirg gitudinully to allow the axle lo lilttrans-- versely of the truck. It is seen therefore that said hearing frame ii is supported on the rear only at a poinl intermediate the ends of the axle. To secure the bearing in place and lo hold the journal of the axle against the hearing 12 a bearing cup 1 (Fig. used which encircles the under side of lhe axle and is secured to the hearing frame 11 in any suitable manner. Preferably ribs or projections 14 are cast integrally with the hearing frame 11. and one end of the bearing cap secured to these by suitable bolts 15 and nuts 16. The other end of the is secured to a web portion ll? (Fig. of the frame by similar bolts 1 The frame is supported on the front axle at 19 and 20 clearly shown in Fig. 3. The bearings and caps used at these two points being similar to those described. it is deemed unnecessary to explain them in further detail. llythis construction. it will he UlSVlQlIlS that the rear axle of each truck isat liberty to tilt out of the horizontal plane oil the for: r

wheels. Conversely, the forwiirrd wheels can hit or change their plane willioui: i; urlung the position of lhe rear axle. irregularities of the rails will consequently not tend to throw the load on only two wheels of ihe truck, as would he i'he case if the three oint Contact system wcrenot u lh'eferahh the rear tru. vided with driving means colnpi 7 21 journalcd in the heariny frame 11 l. mediate the two axles. A pinion 22 n i 5 integral with the shaft 21 and meshes itl the toothed flanges of one of the from. and war Wheels. The shaft 21 is driven "pref-er" by a spri'mlrel' 36 l"lt-:l under the lIIllCll' center so that i p ll of .ie spror set chain which drives rue sprocket from any suitable source of power does not tend to prevent the truck froi'n swiveling when the entire machine curves.

lo the center of lhe hearing trains ll of l l. (i

'ic'rrn the spherical bearing a socket is mounted indirectl izer beam 5 and-raised to the desired height 1 orena:

ends of theequaliser beam 5. center bearings 6 are formed on a separate 28 as shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

The rear trucks are provided with center bearing castings '27, each oi which is'secured to its corresponding frame 11 and each cast-- ing; 9.? engaged b a coiiperating center hoary 27 carried V the sub-base of the mach ne, see 1.

The two front center bearing castings 28 are secured to the equalizer beam inany suitable manner, but preferably riveted thereto as shown at 29 in Fig. 6. Running longitudinally and interiorly of the casting 23 are the threads 30, adapted to be engaged by similar threads on a jack screw 31, Fig. 2. The lower end of the casting is rounded to portion 6 which engages the bearing socket 27 ofeach truck as hereinbefore explained; Cast integrally with the combined center bearing castings and jack nuts 28 are suitable gudgeons 31 i. whose function will be described.

The jacli screw 31 which coiiperates with the jack nut casting 28 is provided with a,

suitable cap or head 32 havingtherein a hole or recess 33 for the insertion of the bar or lever whereby the jack screw is actuated. The tops of said heads 32 are rounded as clearly shown in Fig. 2 and are adapted to engage with corresponding recesses in the bearing plates 34, said bearing plates 34 berigidly secured to the sub base l by any suitable means. By insertinga bar in the holes 33 of the heads and actuating the jack screws, it is obvious that the latter can be raised or lowered at will and thereby be made to engage or disengage the bearing sorted in a. hole drilled through the end By applying such a plates 34 carried by the sub-base 1.

It is often desirable to adjust the front of i the sub-base to thereby level the construction when the machine is positioned for worlnng.

v The center bearing 6 is therefore preferably made adjustable in order to raise or lower the front of the machine through the intermedial-y of the equalizer beam 5. ,Two forms or srlch a center hearing are shown in Figs. 7 and 8. In Fig. 7 the q 1 on the equalby the interposition of suitable shims or filling blocks 36whicl1 together height of the center bearing socket 35 can be regulated by removing or supplying the of filling blocks 36. The

required number is supported directly by sub-base l which the center bearing 35 is consequently raised loweredinto their jaclcnuts 28.

center bearing Q ,lZQl' beam 1s then free totilt in a vertical with said .socket are secured to beam 5 by bolts 36-.

By this construction, it is obvious that tho ported only at the mid-point of the equalizer struction takes the form of a hydraulic cyl indcr in which an extension 37 on the center bearing socket 35 operates a piston. The

hydraulic cylinder is shown at 38 and is supp]. d with a liquid under pressure from any suitable source by means pipe 39. The cylinder 38 secured to the l-brnlns 4;, (Figs, 1 and 8), of the equalizer beam, by means of the flange 4-0 preferably cast integrally with said cylinder The said flange rests on the top edges of the two Lbcams 42 and is secured to them by means of suitable bolts 41, so that cylinder 38 depends between the two I-bcams 42. Of course, the exact placing or construction of the hydraulic cylinder is immaterial tothc invention, but the preferred construction has been described to make the operation of all the parts clear and obvious. Itwill be manifest thatas fluid under pressure is admitted to the cylinder 33, the center bearing socket 35 will be raised, thereby lifting the equalizer locann (-onversely discharging the fluid from the cylinder 38 will permit the center bearing and the equalizer beam The adjusting means in this coir of the supply which it supports 10 fall. The front ofthe entire construction can thereby be adjusted to a nicet y In order to prevent the equalizer beam 5 from turning in a horizontal plane, on each side of the machine a reaclrrod is provided which is pivoted at one end to the bracket 44; carried by the sub-base l. The other end of said reach-rod is indirectly pivoted to the equalizer beam by being slipped over the gudgcon 31, on the casting 28, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and (5. The ex tremity of the rod can be held on said glidgeonby any means such as a cotter pin inof the gudgcon 31. reach-rod at each'cnd of the equalizer beam, it is obvious that said reach-rods will permit the equalizer beam to tilt in a'vertical plane, but will prevent the same from swinging in a horizontal plane. i a lVhen the machine is being propelled along the track-way, the jack screws 31 are there is no obstruction to prevent the extremities of the equalizer beam from moving relatively to the sub-base 1. Such tilting will not, however, be transmitted to the sub-base 1, since the latter is-supplane, since beam by means of aba l and socket engagement, as-described. When the machine is positioned for working, a rigid construction is necessary and such. rigid construction obtained by merely running up the jack screws 31 into engagement with screw bearing plates 34. By this means, a four-point support is substituted for a three The equal- I the jack point support and it will be seen that the sub-base will then be supported at its four corners. If the two rails on one side of the trackway happen to be at a greater elevation than the remaining two rails, the equalizer beam will be tilted to compensate for such dili'erence in elevation, but as the sub-base 1 retains its normal position, it is obvious that the weight will be properly distributed to the four trucks. If, however, the foul-rails are substantially in the same horizontal plane. but one rail of one side of the trackway is elevated slightly above its adjacent rail, the truck engaging the said two rails of unequal elevation, to the ball and socket shaped center bearing 6, such tilting will not be transmitted to the equalizer beam 5. It is obvious that such inequalities of two of the adjacent rails would tend to throw the entire weight. which each truck normally supports, on tn" of the wheels of such truck. This howevw, is prevented by supporting the machine qt only three points on each truck, as already described, so that local inequalities will not cause the four wheels of each truck to be tilted in unison in the. same horizontal plane. One axle of each truck is permitted to tilt in a Vertical plane and when such axle is caused to tilt by local inequalities of the rails, such tilting will be viiective to prop erly distribute the load carried by each truck to each of the wheels thereof.

ly the foregoing construction, it is seen that all. inequalities of the trackway, whether such inequalities are relative to both of the track, or relative to the two rails constituting one side of the track are tlun'oughly compensated for. Such compensation prevents the weight of the unirhiue from being; thrown on two trucks in cases where. the irregularities are relative to the two sides of the trachwuy, nod prevents the weight from being thrown on two wheels of each truck in cases Where the irregularities are relative to the two rails of one side of the traclmay. When the jack screws are ehn'ated to engage the jack screw bearing; plates ill, an absolutely rigid construction is obtained by a simple and speedy operation. The said jack screws always being carried by the jack nut cast)- lugs. which in turn are always carried by the equalizer beam. are always in readiness to actuated to substitute the four-point support for the three-point support. The carrying oi the jack screws by the same castings which serve center bearings for the trucks, insures a compact: construction and a great reduction in the number of arts heretofore used to accomplish the stabilizing in cases where hydraulic or pneumatic equalizing means have heretofore been resin-ted to. in most of such cases the stabilizing was accomplished by supplying addiwill be tilted, but, due

trucks.

means associated provided nor-calm tionel jacks which were interposed between a suitable part of the machine and the ground, or else by using suit-able filling blocks to support portions of the sub-base directly on the ground. It will be noted that a slight adjustment of the jack screws is sufiicient to prevent any rocking whatsoever of the-subbase. i

It is obvious that the invention is not limited to the specific construction ShOWn, for numerous changes can be made in many parts of the construction without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

1. The combination with a machine of the class described mounted directly on two rear four-wheeled trucks, of two front fourwheeled trucks, an equalizer beam supported by said front trucks, the forward portion of the machine being supported by the'benm intermediate the ends thereof.

.2. The combination with a machine of the class described mounted directly tn rear four-wheeled trucks, of two front four wheeledtrucks, an equalizer beam supported bv said front trucks. a center bearing intcrmediate the ends of said beam adapted to support the forward portion of the machine.

3. The combination with a machine of the class described, of tour founwheeled sup porting trucks two of which directly support one part of the machine, an equalizer beam supported by the two other trucks, the 'remaining part of the machine beingsupported on said equaliier beam.

l. A Hll ipt li for machines oi the class described, comprising four. four-Wheeled trucks, on equalizer beam supported by two of the same. the machine being supported directly on the other tow trucks and on the said equalizer beam.

5. In a machine of the class described, provided with four four-Wheeled supporting trucks, the combination with two of the of an. equalizer beam supported thereby, one portion of the machine-being supported by the intermediate portion of the beam.

6. In a machine of the class described provided with a sub-louse and four supporting trucks, the combination with two of the. trucks, of an equalizer beam supported thereby, one portion oi thesubdoase being supported'at one point on said beam, and l with said beam whereby thes tr-bhse of the machine can be supported at twopoints on said beam.

'7. In a machine of the class described withasub'base and four supportingirucks the coinbir'iation with two of the trucks, of an equalizer beam supported thereby, one portion or" the sub-base being sup ported intermediate the ends of the beam,

and means associated with the beam wherethereby,

by the sub-base of the machine can be supported at the ends of said beam.

8. In a machine of the class described provided with a sub-base and four supporting trucks, the combination with two oi the trucks, of an equalizer beam supported one portion of the sub-base being normally supported intermediate the ends of the beam, and jack screws associated with the ends of the beam adapted to support the sub-base of the machine at the ends of the beam.

9. In a machine of the class described provided with a sub-base and four supporting trucks, the combination with two of the trucks, of an equalizer beam supported thereby, one portion of the sub-base being normal supported intermediate the ears of the beam, center bearing castings supporting the ends of the beam on the two trucks, means associated with said castings adapted to support the sub-base of the machine directly over said center bearin s.

10. In a machine of the c ass described provided with a gab-base and four supporting trucks, the combination with two of the trucks, of an equalizer beam supported thereby, one portion of the sub-base being normally supported intermediate-the ends of the beam, center bearing castings supporting the ends of the beam on the two trucks, jack to support thewends of the beam directly over said center bearings.

11. In a machine of the character described, a load equalizing supporting system comprising two rear trucks which directly support the rear portion of the machine, two front'trucks, an equalizer beam supported on said front trucks, the forward portion of the machine being supported at one point intermediate the ends of said beam, means to prevent said beam from turning in a horizontal plane, and means adapted to support the forward portion of the machine on the ends of said beam and directly over said front trucks. i

12. In a machine of the kind described, a load equalizing supporting system comprising two rear trucks which directlysupport the rear portion of the machine, two front trucks, an equalizer beam'supported by said front trucks, the forward portion of the machine being supported intermediate the ends of the beam, thereby permitting the four trucks to move out of their horizontal plane, the load on each truck being supported at three points thereon to allow the four wheels of each truck to move out of their horizontal planes, substantially'as described.

13. In a machine of the class described screws in said castings adapted described, comprising provided with a suitable sub-base, four four wheeled supporting trucks therefor, two of which support the sub-base directly, an equalizer beam supported by the other two trucks, center bearings associated with the trucks and beam to support the latter, and a center bearing intermediate the ends of the beam to support the sub-base.

Ll. In a machine of the class described provided with. asuitable sub-base, four supporting trucks therefor, two of which support the sub-base directly, an equalizer beam supported by the other two. trucks, center bearing castings carried by the ends of said beam, centerbearing sockets on said trucks adapted to support said castings, said castings also serving for jack nuts, a jaclr screw in said casting, adapted to engage the subbase to steady the same, and a center hearing intermediate the ends 0;; said beam on which the forward part of the suh-base is normally supported.

15. A. support for machines oft-the hind described, comprising four four-wheeled load supporting trucks, an equalizer beam supported on two oi said trucks by means of center bearings, the body of the machine being supported at three points by means of a center bearings, to wit, on the two remain ing trucks and on the equalizer beam.

16. A support for machines of the kind four load supporting trucks, an equalizer beam supported on two of said trucks by means of center bearings, the body of the machine being supported at three points by means of center hearings, to wit, on the two remaining trucks and on the equalizer beam, and means on said equalizer beam, adapted to engage the machine body to constitute a four point supporf or said machine body.

17. The combination with a machine of the class described, of two front trucks, an equalizer beam, jack nut castings carried by the ends of said beam, said castings provided with a rounded portion'to serve as a center bearing to support the equalizer beam.

on said trucks, a center bearing intermediate the ends oi" said beam to support the front end of the machine, jack screws in said castings ada ted to'be elevated to constitute a support or the machine at each end of the equalizer beam, and means to prevent the beam from turning in a horizontal plane.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature, in presence 0 two witnesses.

svarrr ROBERT Wittmumrrssou BAGER.

Witnesses:

EUGENE RANDOLPH Warren, 0. M. Wrmc. 

